Genotype X Environment Interactions in Sheep

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Genotype X Environment Interactions in Sheep AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF KATHLEEN STEELE CORUM for the degree MASTER OF SCIENCE (Name of student) (Degree) in ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS presented on/ (Major department) (Date Title: GENOTYPE X ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS IN SHEEP Abstract approved: Redacted for privacy (Signature) William D. Hohenboken The 865 ewe production records taken from three lamb crops, were analyzed to study breed effects, heterosis, environmental effects and interactions between them, and breed and heterosis x environment inter- action effects on ewe production traits. In each of two environments, approximately 144 ewes were mated in a three breed reciprocal cross design each year. The resulting 757 parturitions produced 1263 lambs. Hampshire, Suffolk and Willamette sheep from university flocks were used. Two rams of each breed were used in each environment each year. One location was rolling hill land, the other was level, irrigated, valley bottom land, both near Corvallis, Oregon. Least squares analyses of variance were computed on ewe production traits which included fertility, lambs born, percent survival to weaning, lambs weaned and pounds of lamb weaned. None of the effects tested in the analysis of fertility showed significance.On the other traits, year was significant except for survival. Location was significant for pounds weaned per ewe mated and for lambs born, percent weaned and pounds weaned per ewe lambing. The main effect of the hill land was superior except for lambs born per ewe which lambed. Dam age was significant except for survival. The age effect on fertility was not tested. Otherwise pro- duction increased with age. Dam weight change during the mating season was significant for pounds weaned per ewe mated and forprolificacy. Pounds weaned increased with weight gain while prolificacy decreased. Lambing date was significant for lambs born and lambs weaned per ewe lambing. Prolificacy increased as the lambing season progressed. Location x year interaction effects on pounds of lamb weaned per ewe mated and on lambs weaned, percent weaned and pounds of lamb weaned per ewe which lambed were significant. Dam breed and dam x location interaction were significant for pounds weaned per ewe mated. The overall and hill land ranking of ewe breeds was Willamette, Suffolk, then Hampshire. The interaction re. sulted primarily from a disproportionate increase in the performanceof the Willamette ewes on the hill land. The Suffolk ewes were superior on the irrigated pasture. This suggests that a superior adaptation of Willamette ewes to hill land has resulted during their developmentand selection there. Sire x year was significant for lambs born. The inter- action effect alone, however, in no case was more than 0.10lamb so its importance is questionable. Heterosis and heterosis x location inter- action were significant for pounds weaned per ewe mated. Heterosis was 31.3% for pounds weaned per ewe mated on the valley pastureand 8.2% on the hill pasture. These results suggest that heterosis is greaterwhen conditions for the expression of a given trait aresuboptimal. Genotype x Environment Interactions in Sheep by Kathleen Steele Corum A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Commencement June 1974 APPROVED: Redacted for privacy Assistant Professor of Animal Breeding and Genetics in charge of major Redacted for privacy Head of Department of Animal Science Redacted for privacy Dean of Graduate School Date thesis is presented Typed by Linda Peoples for Kathleen Steele Corum Acknowledgements The author expresses appreciation to Drs. W. D. Hohenboken, K. Rowe and L. Swanson for guidance and counsel in the preparation of the study program and of this thesis. Thanks are extended to Drs. Ralph Bogart and C. W. Fox for the de- sign of this experiment, and again with Dr. W. D. Hohenboken for its administration. Appreciation is shown to Mr. Millard Shelton and Mr. Lloyd Wescott for collection of the data. Thanks are extended also to Dr. Kenneth Rowe for advice and assistance in the computer analysis of this data. A special acknowledgement is made to my husband, Kell, for his encouragement, support and good humor during the thesis preparation. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction Objectives II. Review of Literature 4 III. Materials 11 Source of Experimental Animals 11 Mating Scheme 11 Environments 12 Management Practices 14 IV. Methods 16 Components of the Fertility Model 18 Components of the Model Analyzed on a Per Ewe Mated Basis....19 Components of the Model Analyzed on a Per Ewe Lambing Basis..20 V. Results and Discussion 22 Environmental Effects and Interactions 26 Breed Effects and Breed x Environment Interactions 35 Heterosis and Heterosis x Environment Interaction 42 VI. Summary and Conclusions 47 VII. Bibliography 51 VIII. Appendices A. Breed Means for Fertility 55 B. Breed Means for Ewe Production Traits 56 C. Breed/Year/Location Means 58 D. Location Means 68 69 E. Heterosis LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure Page 1 Location x Year Interaction for Lambs Weaned per Ewe 31 Lambing 2 Location x Year Interaction for Percent Weaned 32 3 Location x Year Interaction for Pounds Weaned per 33 Ewe Mated Location x Year Interaction for Pounds Weaned per 34 Ewe Lambing Breed Effects on Pounds Weaned per Ewe Mated 37 Dam x Location Interaction for Pounds Weaned per 39 Ewe Mated 7 Sire x Year Interaction for Lambs Born per EweMated 40 8 Sire x Year Interaction for Lambs Born per Ewe Lambing 41 Means of Specific Crosses for Pounds Weaned per Ewe 43 Mated 44 10 Heterosis x Location Interaction LIST OF TABLES Table Page I. Mating SchemeUsed Each Year 13 II. Least SquaresAnalysis of Variance forEwe Fertility 23 III. Least SquaresAnalyses of Variance forEwe Productivity 24 Based on EwesMated (M) IV. Least SquaresAnalyses of Variance forEwe Productivity 25 Based on EwesWhich Lambed (L) V. EnvironmentalEffects on Ewe Production Traits 27 VI. Breed Effects on Ewe Production Traits 36 GENOTYPE X ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS IN SHEEP I. INTRODUCTION Increases in the costs of sheep production, particularly due to rising grain prices, are resulting from increasing human consumption of grain products and the competition for grains from more efficient domes- tic species. This and the decreasing wool returns resulting from compe- tition of synthetic fibers with wool are placing increased pressure on the sheep industry to improve the efficiency of production and to put more emphasis on lamb production. Utilization of less costly by-product feeds and range lands and increasing the production of lambs are vital to the prosperity of the sheep industry. Total pounds of lamb weaned per ewe mated is the best single measure of a flock's production, consequent- ly more attention is being given to the number of lambs produced per ewe as well as to the quality of the individual lambs. There is a large amount of evidence which indicates that breed per- formance is influenced by environment in a non-additive manner. An obvious example is the suitability of Merino and Rambouillet sheep to arid climates and of Suffolk and Hampshire sheep to areas of higher rainfall. The arid climate may not provide the forage necessary for the larger, faster growing Down breeds to attain their genetic potential for growth. In the arid climate, the better suited wool breeds may actually excel in the characteristic, growth, for which the Down breeds were developed. The extent and importance of genotype x environment inter- actions needs to be determined.The relative economic suitabilities of feeds and range lands for sheep can change. With these changes, the relative merits of sheep breeds may also change. There are many breeds of sheep throughout the world. The British, for example, have developed a large number of breeds, each with a specific purpose or local adaptation. The Scots often say that the Cheviot is best adapted to grass ranges, the Blackface to heather covered hills. "However, the reported belief among shepherds in the North of England (Clarke, 1963) that the Herdwick should be grazed 'on the wet side of a fell, the Swaledale on the dry side' may be carrying the idea of local adaptation a bit far." (Carter et al., 1971) Some of this great multiplicity of breeds may be attributable to personal preference and to poor roads and transportation, but some tangible differences have developed to justify the discrimination between breeds. How many breeds are needed though? Singh et al. (1967) points out that genetic improve- ment of breeds is costly and time consuming and suggests that limited facilities be devoted to fewer, more promising breeds and that those with lower performance be discarded. The question suggested here is whether breeds can be so unequivocally ranked. The existence of genotype x environment interactions which involve a change in rank of genotypes in different environments would make the estimation of overall breed effects meaningless. The existence of economically important genotype x environment interactions could render a new dimension to genetic improvement, performance tests and selection programs. Breeds and/or mating systems would have to be selected, tested and developed in the environment of their anticipated use with 3 the expectation of poorer performance elsewhere, or alternativelybreeds and/or mating systems would have to be selected for adaptabilityunder a wide range of environments and maximumsuitability in any of the environments sacrificed. Objectives The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate theHampshire, Suffolk and Willamette breeds of sheep and to documenttheir strengths and weaknesses; to determine whether heterosis existedin crosses between these three breeds; to examine environmental effects andthe interactions between them; and to examine breed and heterosis interactionswith en- vironment in ewe production traits. The models included sire breed, dam breed, location, year, sires nested within locationswithin years, dam age, dam weight change during the mating season,lambing date, and the two-, and three-way interactions between location, year,sire breed and dam breed.
Recommended publications
  • CATAIR Appendix
    CBP and Trade Automated Interface Requirements Appendix: PGA April 24, 2020 Pub # 0875-0419 Contents Table of Changes ............................................................................................................................................4 PG01 – Agency Program Codes .................................................................................................................... 18 PG01 – Government Agency Processing Codes ............................................................................................. 22 PG01 – Electronic Image Submitted Codes.................................................................................................... 26 PG01 – Globally Unique Product Identification Code Qualifiers .................................................................... 26 PG01 – Correction Indicators* ...................................................................................................................... 26 PG02 – Product Code Qualifiers.................................................................................................................... 28 PG04 – Units of Measure .............................................................................................................................. 30 PG05 – Scie nt if ic Spec ies Code .................................................................................................................... 31 PG05 – FWS Wildlife Description Codes .....................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Sheep Pocket Guide
    AS-989 SHEEP POCKET GUIDE ~ RogerG.Haugen ~ 4 Y. 3 Extension Sheep Specialist /lJq It g MI!l [I ~~~~NSION ao, qcgq SERVICE iqq{P MAY 1996 INDEX Introduction ........................................................ 2 Management Calendar of Events ............................................ 3 Normal PhYSiological Values ...................... 54 Nutrition Ways to Identify .......................................... 55 Feeding Tips ............................................... 10 Space Allotments ........................................ 56 Flushing the Ewe ........................................ 12 Group Sizes at Lambing ............................. 57 Feeding Alternatives for Ewes .................... 12 Lambing Time Equipment ........................... 58 Creep Feeding ............................................ 15 Grafting Lambs ........................................... 59 Lamb Feeding ...... ....................................... 16 Rearing Lambs Artificially ........................... 60 Urinary Calculi ............................................ 16 Tube Feeding .............................................. 62 Nutrition and Health .................................... 18 Starving Lambs ........................................... 64 Water .......................................................... 18 Breeding Ration Nutrient Requirements .................... 21 Breeds ........................................................ 66 Minerals ...................................................... 24 Ram Selection ...........................................
    [Show full text]
  • Breeding Problems with Sheep
    Breeding Problems With Sheep iflâwi By H. C McPhee, Chiefs Animal Htis-- handry Division^ and D. A. Spencer^ Senior Animal Hushand'inan, Bureau of Anrmal Industry IT IS probable that slicep luive been kept b}' man longer tlian any other class of domestic livestock. During this long period of domestication, certain breeds with outstanding characters have been developed. The best of them serve their puipose very well. From the practical standpoint there would seeiïi to be less pressure for improvement in the case of sheep tlum in the case of other classes of livestock. Yet tlie sheepman would like to produce wool of a given character and quality with greater certainty; he would like to com- bine this with assured production of good-quality meat; he would like to be sure of getting high-milking ewes for the sake of a good lamb crop; and he is faced with the usual problems of diseases and weaknesses common to other livestock, plus some that are peculiar to his own field. He must consider also, especially, the matter of environment. From hot-house lamb production to the utilization of rugged ranges and of browse and forage imi:)alatable to most other classes of livestock, the sheep is called upon for a great variety of service to man. The scientific worker, however, finds himself faced with a very great deficiency in genetic knowledge of practically all the economi- cally important traits in sheep, including wool characters, meat characters, and milk characters. Also numy of the available methods for measuring variations in the character and quality of sheep products are either inaccurate or inadequate to detect essential details.
    [Show full text]
  • CATAIR Appendix
    CBP and Trade Automated Interface Requirements Appendix: PGA February 12, 2021 Pub # 0875-0419 Contents Table of Changes .................................................................................................................................................... 4 PG01 – Agency Program Codes ........................................................................................................................... 18 PG01 – Government Agency Processing Codes ................................................................................................... 22 PG01 – Electronic Image Submitted Codes.......................................................................................................... 26 PG01 – Globally Unique Product Identification Code Qualifiers ........................................................................ 26 PG01 – Correction Indicators* ............................................................................................................................. 26 PG02 – Product Code Qualifiers........................................................................................................................... 28 PG04 – Units of Measure ...................................................................................................................................... 30 PG05 – Scientific Species Code ........................................................................................................................... 31 PG05 – FWS Wildlife Description Codes ...........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Complaint Report
    EXHIBIT A ARKANSAS LIVESTOCK & POULTRY COMMISSION #1 NATURAL RESOURCES DR. LITTLE ROCK, AR 72205 501-907-2400 Complaint Report Type of Complaint Received By Date Assigned To COMPLAINANT PREMISES VISITED/SUSPECTED VIOLATOR Name Name Address Address City City Phone Phone Inspector/Investigator's Findings: Signed Date Return to Heath Harris, Field Supervisor DP-7/DP-46 SPECIAL MATERIALS & MARKETPLACE SAMPLE REPORT ARKANSAS STATE PLANT BOARD Pesticide Division #1 Natural Resources Drive Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 Insp. # Case # Lab # DATE: Sampled: Received: Reported: Sampled At Address GPS Coordinates: N W This block to be used for Marketplace Samples only Manufacturer Address City/State/Zip Brand Name: EPA Reg. #: EPA Est. #: Lot #: Container Type: # on Hand Wt./Size #Sampled Circle appropriate description: [Non-Slurry Liquid] [Slurry Liquid] [Dust] [Granular] [Other] Other Sample Soil Vegetation (describe) Description: (Place check in Water Clothing (describe) appropriate square) Use Dilution Other (describe) Formulation Dilution Rate as mixed Analysis Requested: (Use common pesticide name) Guarantee in Tank (if use dilution) Chain of Custody Date Received by (Received for Lab) Inspector Name Inspector (Print) Signature Check box if Dealer desires copy of completed analysis 9 ARKANSAS LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY COMMISSION #1 Natural Resources Drive Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 (501) 225-1598 REPORT ON FLEA MARKETS OR SALES CHECKED Poultry to be tested for pullorum typhoid are: exotic chickens, upland birds (chickens, pheasants, pea fowl, and backyard chickens). Must be identified with a leg band, wing band, or tattoo. Exemptions are those from a certified free NPIP flock or 90-day certificate test for pullorum typhoid. Water fowl need not test for pullorum typhoid unless they originate from out of state.
    [Show full text]
  • ACE Appendix
    CBP and Trade Automated Interface Requirements Appendix: PGA August 13, 2021 Pub # 0875-0419 Contents Table of Changes .................................................................................................................................................... 4 PG01 – Agency Program Codes ........................................................................................................................... 18 PG01 – Government Agency Processing Codes ................................................................................................... 22 PG01 – Electronic Image Submitted Codes .......................................................................................................... 26 PG01 – Globally Unique Product Identification Code Qualifiers ........................................................................ 26 PG01 – Correction Indicators* ............................................................................................................................. 26 PG02 – Product Code Qualifiers ........................................................................................................................... 28 PG04 – Units of Measure ...................................................................................................................................... 30 PG05 – Scientific Species Code ........................................................................................................................... 31 PG05 – FWS Wildlife Description Codes ...........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • What Sheep Breed Is the Best of All?
    What Sheep Breed Is the Best of All? —Ulf Kintzel Photos by Author lamb the better it is. Suffolk and Hampshire sheep produce such large carcasses either when used as purebred flocks or, One of the first steps that everyone takes in order to more commonly, when they are used as terminal sires for start a sheep operation is getting information on where to get cross breeding with “white-faced” wool sheep out West. sheep. Far too often the decision on the breed is made before There is also an ethnic market. It is an ever-increasing breeders are scouted out, a business plan is developed, and market for smaller and lighter lambs. Depending on ethnicity, the market in the immediate neighborhood has been explored. season, or religious holiday, people of Mediterranean, However, some sheep breeds fit certain managing systems African, or mid-Eastern origin or background look for a lamb better than others. In addition, not all sheep breeds produce anywhere between 40 and 100 pounds live weight. While the same products. the New Zealand producers have penetrated that market Quite often people seek my advice with an already set for lighter lambs quite substantially, it still asks for many live mind and tell me: “I heard Suffolk sheep are the best breed,” lambs that must be raised domestically. Large breeds are often or “Dorper sheep are the best sheep.” My standard response most unsuitable to produce these light lambs because the is always the same: “Best breed for what purpose?” In this meat to fat to bone ratio is most unfavorable in light lambs article I will try to from many larger breeds.
    [Show full text]
  • Breeder's Directory
    The Banner Breeders’ Directory These progressive breeders usually have quality breeding stock for sale at all times. We recommend you contact them or any of our advertisers when making your selection. One year’s listing is only $65 and $35 for additional listings and includes a one year subscription and a free listing on our website! Call today, 309/785-5058 or fax 309/785-5050 and have your flock represented. COLUMBIAS RAMBOUILLETS HEUPEL SUFFOLKS, Marv & HAMPSHIRES Sandy Heupel, “60 Years of Real ALABAMA BRANDT’S COLUMBIAS, Ron & TERRYS SHEEP, Teresa Terry & Linebreeding To Produce The NELSON HAMPS, Rodney & Andrea Brandt, 729 Monroe Andy Edmondson, “Focus on Big-Beautiful-Bold Ones. All Kathy Nelson, “Entire Flock Avenue, Los Banos, CA 93635. Fleeces.” 5135 Ranchita Canyon White Pedigreed with a High QR & RR’s” 13329 Weld County CORRIEDALES Ph. 209/704-1073 (Ron). Email: Road, San Miguel, CA 93451. Ph. Concentration of the “R” Road 74, Eaton, CO 80615. [email protected]. 805/835-9919. Email: teterry@ Factor” 5925 Foxen Canyon Home: 970/454-3775. Cell: 970/ WILDWIND CORRIEDALES, CORMOS live.com. Road, Santa Maria, CA 93454. Ph. 481-9837. Email: nelsheep1@ Grover/Quay, “Top Breeding 805/937-5716. what-wire.com. Selections are Available at the SHROPSHIRES McCABE SUFFOLKS, Lloyd & Farm”, 130 Jones Road, SoCal WOOL SHEEP: Cormos, PREUIT HAMPS & SUFFOLKS, Sheila McCabe, 7933 Jahn Road, Wetumpka, AL 36092. Ph. Corriedales and Romneys, Kyle & Denise Preuit , “We Raise ANDERSON FARMS, Matthew, Dixon, CA 95620. Ph. 707/693- 334/514-0495. Email: egwildwind George Saunders, “Covered Good, Sound Sheep!” 286 E.
    [Show full text]
  • SHEEP Blackface Sheep Breeders' Association
    SHEEP Blackface Sheep Breeders’ Association ................. 48 Tay Street, Perth, Scotland. Scottish Blackface Breeders’ Association ............... 1699 H H Hwy., Willow Springs, MO 65793 U.S.A. Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders Association .. Riverside View, Warwick Rd., Carlisle, CA1 2BS Scotland Border Leicester Sheep Breeders ........................... Greenend, St. Boswells, Melrose, TD6 9ES England California Red Sheep Registry ................................ P.O. Box 468, LaPlata, NM 87418 U.S.A. British Charollais, Sheep Society ............................ Youngmans Rd., Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 0RR England Mouton Charollais, Texel & Romanov .................... U.P.R.A., 36, rue du Général Leclerc, 71120 Charolles, France American Cheviot Sheep Society, Inc ..................... R.R. 1, Box 100, Clarks Hill, IN 47930 U.S.A. Cheviot Sheep Society ............................................ 1 Bridge St., Hawick, Scotland North American Clun Forest Association ................ W 5855 Muhlum Rd., Holmen, WI 54636 U.S.A. Columbia Sheep Breeders’ Association of P.O. Box 272, Upper Sandusky, OH America 43351 U.S.A. American Corriedale Association, Inc. .................... Box 391, Clay City, IL 62824 U.S.A. Australian Corriedale Sheep Breeders’ Sydney, N.S.W., Australia. Association Corriedale Sheep Society, Inc. ............................... 154 Hereford St., Christchurch, New Zealand. American Cotswold Record Association ................. 18 Elm St., P.O. Box 59, Plympton, MA 02367 U.S.A. Cotswold Breeders Association .............................
    [Show full text]
  • Ariail Family Tree 10Thst Generation
    AriAil fAmily Tree Book 3. This is the research that has been completed as of Dec 2019. We know for certain that the father of ***Mathieu Ariail (1) was ***Francois Ariail and his mother was Mathurine Cornu. We believe the father of ***Francois Ariail was ***Jean (John) Ariail and mother to be Francoise Brunier. Still looking at records and can make corrections if necessary. The reason for this assumption is that ***Jean Ariail and Francoise Brunier named one of their sons Herve Ariail, bap. 22 Aug 1626, and the name Herve Ariail is used down through this line of the family and has been found in no other line of the family. So here goes. Documentation comes from www.culture.cg44.fr and www.archives49.fr. The ancestors of all the Ariail Family living in the U.S. and Arial in Canada are marked with ORANGE***. There are some Arial Families living in the U.S., especially Hawaii, who came from Portugal. This is not surprising, as we believe the Family name Ariail to be Hebrew in origin, migrating at some point to perhaps Spain and then to France and North America by way of Canada and Portugal. Nationality portions of U.S. Census reports support this stand. You should note that there are several lines of the Ariail family in France, each one dating back to the early 1600’s. As of this date, we have not been able to tie all of them together, but we do know that there was a Martin Ariail, born in the early 1500’s who could be a common ancestor for many of these lines.
    [Show full text]
  • Snomed Ct Dicom Subset of January 2017 Release of Snomed Ct International Edition
    SNOMED CT DICOM SUBSET OF JANUARY 2017 RELEASE OF SNOMED CT INTERNATIONAL EDITION EXHIBIT A: SNOMED CT DICOM SUBSET VERSION 1.
    [Show full text]
  • A Preliminary Report on the Frequency of Scrapie Susceptibility Alleles in Hampshire Sheep
    A Preliminary Report on the Frequency of Scrapie Susceptibility Alleles in Hampshire Sheep A.S. Leaflet R1469 the brain tissue to become filled with holes--like a sponge. This "spongy" brain morphology in scrapie-af- Curtis R. Youngs, associate professor of animal science, fected animals is similar to that observed in a number of Iowa State University degenerative brain diseases known as spongiform enceph- Amanda K. Purdy, undergraduate research assistant, alopathies. Other spongiform encephalopathies include James R. Mickelson, associate professor of veterinary transmissible mink encephalopathy, bovine spongiform pathobiology, University of Minnesota encephalopathy (BSE or "mad cow disease"), and three related human diseases--Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, kuru, Summary and Gertsmann-Sträussler syndrome. Blood samples were collected from a total of 201 ani- The prion protein is similar to all proteins made by mals in five purebred Hampshire sheep flocks. DNA an animal in the fact that the animal's genes (DNA) was isolated from the samples, and the protein-coding direct the cells how to make the protein. When the region of the prion protein gene was amplified using genetic code is read from a chromosome in the nucleus the polymerase chain reaction. The allelic inside a cell (a process called transcription), a molecule frequencies of the prion protein codons 171 and 136 called messenger RNA (mRNA) is made. The mRNA were determined. Results revealed that the codon 171 molecule then directs the production of the gene product alleles Q, R, and H were present at frequencies of (i.e., protein) in a process known as translation. During 72%, 27% and 1%, respectively.
    [Show full text]